Elegant Reflections on an Elegant Ministry: John Stott, 1921-2011

Elegant Reflections on an Elegant Ministry: John Stott, 1921-2011 July 29, 2011

Several members of the BibleMesh project have posted meaningful reflections on the life and career of Anglican expositor John Stott, who just went home to glory.  I commend them all to you.  Below are two that speak to a personal connection with the man, who influenced generations of Christians.

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One of Dr. Stott’s many initiatives was to establish the London Lectures focusing on Christian engagement with the  wider world. I delivered the London Lectures in 2003, on the topic “Can Christianity and Islam co-exist in the 21st century?” Dr Stott attended the series and was inspirational by his presence, by his insightful questions and comments, and by his words of encouragement. I was humbled by his presence and felt that I should have been sitting at his feet, rather than him sitting in the front row of my lectures. The series was held at the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, which serves as an enduring legacy of Dr Stott’s energy and vision.

Peter Riddell
Dean of the Centre for the Study of Islam and Other Faiths
Melbourne School of Theology, Australia
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I can still feel the silence in St Ebbe’s Church, Oxford, when John Stott neared the end of his exposition of Philippians 2:5-11. With his characteristic clarity he impressed upon our hearts that every knee will bow before the Lord Jesus: every Christian knee, every Muslim knee, every Hindu knee—every knee will bow before him. I remember buying two of his commentaries for the first time—Ephesians and 2 Timothy—and buying The Cross of Christ at the Oxford Christian Union. I’ve read all his works more than once—some many times—and been inspired by the story of life. The risen Lord Jesus gave us John R.W. Stott as a gracious gift and to God be the Glory!

Michael McClenahan
Irish Presbyterian minister
 
Read several more reflections on the life and ministry of John Stott at the BibleMesh blog.

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